Rubus plant named &#39;16TP4&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Rubus  named ‘16TP4’ that is characterized by its thornless canes, its semi-upright plant habit, its 3 or 5 leaflets per leaf, its late flowering season, its berries that are 10 to 20 grams in weight, and its fruiting on floricanes only.

Botanical classification: Rubus subg. Rubus hybrid.

Cultivar designation: ‘16TP4’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of blackberry plant, botanically of hybrid origin with Rubus subg. Rubus and other species in its ancestry. ‘16TP4’ and will be referred to hereinafter by its cultivar name, ‘16TP4’. ‘16TP4’ is a new blackberry plant grown for fruit production.

‘16TP4’ was discovered by the Inventor as a chance seedling in spring of 2016 amongst seedlings that were grown from an unnamed blackberry plant in Etten-Leur, The Netherlands.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by the Inventor by stem cuttings in spring of 2016 in Etten-Leur, The Netherlands. Asexual propagation of the new cultivar by root cuttings, stem cuttings, and tissue culture using meristem tissue has shown that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘16TP4’ as a new and unique cultivar of Rubus.

-   -   1. ‘16TP4’ exhibits thornless canes.     -   2. ‘16TP4’ exhibits a semi-upright plant habit.     -   3. ‘16TP4’ exhibits 3 or 5 leaflets per leaf.     -   4. ‘16TP4’ exhibits a late flowering season.     -   5. ‘16TP4’ exhibits berries that are 10 to 20 grams in weight.     -   6. ‘16TP4’ exhibits fruiting on floricanes only.

‘16TP4’ can be compared to the cultivars ‘Loch Ness’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,782) and ‘Loch Tay’ (not patented). ‘Loch Ness’ and ‘Loch Tay’ are similar to ‘16TP4’ in fruiting on floricanes and in having thornless canes. ‘Loch Ness’ differs from ‘16TP4’ in having fruit that are smaller, laterals that are shorter, leaves that are smaller, and less fruit per lateral. ‘Loch Tay’ differs from ‘16TP4’ in flowering much earlier, in having much smaller fruit, in being less productive, and canes that are thinner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Rubus. The photographs were taken of plants 21 months in age as grown in an unheated greenhouse in 19-cm containers in Made, the Netherlands.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a view of plants of ‘16TP4’.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of a leaf of ‘16TP4’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of the flowers of ‘16TP4’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of the fruit of ‘16TP4’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the photographic and printing technology utilized. The colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new Rubus.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of plants 21 months in age as grown in an unheated greenhouse in 19-cm containers in Made, the Netherlands. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with the 2015 Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:     -   -   Plant type.—Fruit producing perennial.         -   Plant habit.—Semi-upright.         -   Height and spread.—An average of 1.8 cm in height and 1.38             cm in spread as a 21-month old plant as grown in a 21-cm             container.         -   Hardiness.—This trait has not been fully characterized in a             range of cold weather climates but the plants can             successfully grow in central Europe (U. K. Hardiness Zone             7).         -   Diseases and pests.—No resistance or susceptibility to pests             or diseases has been observed.         -   Root description.—Fibrous and vigorous.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching; an average of 5 main             canes and 26 lateral stems per plant.         -   Propagation.—Root cuttings, stem cuttings or tissue culture.         -   Root development.—An average of 2 weeks to initiate roots,             an average of 7 months to fully develop as a plant with 5             canes that are 2 m in height.         -   Growth rate.—Very vigorous. -   Cane description (floricanes):     -   -   Cane size.—An average of 2.2 m in length and an average of 6             mm in width.         -   Cane internode length.—10 cm.         -   Cane shape and aspect.—Angled, lateral branches held at an             average of 55° to 65° to vertical of main branch.         -   Cane strength.—Strong.         -   Cane color.—The new canes are N199B and heavily suffused             with 146B, mature canes 144A with internodes 144A, older             stems 146B.         -   Stem surface.—Glossy, thornless, moderately to densely             covered with soft hairs; about 1 mm in length and too fine             to measure color.         -   Stipules.—2 per petiole, leafy; narrow elliptic in shape, an             average of 1.5 cm in length and 2.5 mm in width, apex narrow             acute, cuneate base, upper surface a color between 141A and             147B, lower surface 147A, both surfaces covered with             adpressed hairs; an average of 1 mm in length and             transparent and NN155D in color. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Time of vegetative bud burst.—Early to mid season.         -   Leaf shape.—Broadly cordate in overall form.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Leaf division.—Compound; 3 to 5 leaflets.         -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Leaf orientation.—Flat to slightly concave.         -   Leaf size.—An average of 16.3 cm in length and 9.5 cm in             width.         -   Leaflet shape.—Broad ovate to near rhomboidal.         -   Leaflet base.—Rounded.         -   Leaflet apex.—Broad apiculate.         -   Leaflet venation.—Pinnate, 144A on upper surface and 145B on             lower surface.         -   Leaflet margins.—Bi-serrate, basal leaflets occasionally             with one lobe; shallow with sinus divergent.         -   Leaflet arrangement.—One terminal and 1 to 2 lateral pairs.         -   Leaflet attachment.—Primarily sessile.         -   Leaflet surface.—Upper and lower surface rugose, moderately             pubescent on upper surface and densely pubescent on lower             surface, hairs 1 mm in length, transparent, and about NN155D             in color.         -   Leaflet color.—Young leaf: upper surface a color between             143A and 146B, lower surface 143C, mature leaf: upper             surface 144A, lower surface 145B, no change in fall.         -   Leaflet size.—An average of 9.5 cm in length and 7.9 cm in             width.         -   Petioles.—Round in shape, an average of 10 cm in length and             2 mm in width, color; upper surface 143A, lower surface             144B, strong, both surfaces pubescent on both surfaces;             hairs 1 mm in length, transparent, and NN155D in color.         -   Rachis.—Round in shape, an average of 3 cm in length and 1.7             mm in width, color; upper surface 143A, lower surface 144B,             both surfaces pubescent on both surfaces; hairs 1 mm in             length, transparent, and NN155D in color. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Blooming period.—As a floricane; late season; flowering for             8 weeks in summer in The Netherlands.         -   Inflorescence.—Panicle, an average of 14.6 cm in length, an             average of 11.4 cm in diameter.         -   Rachis (peduncle).—Flattened in shape, an average of 11 cm             in length and 3 mm in width, held straight vertical stem,             color upper surface 146A and lower surface 146C, moderate to             strong in strength, surface moderately glossy with soft thin             hairs 1 mm in length and NN155D in color.         -   Pedicels.—Round in shape, color 144A, an average of 1.9 cm             in length and 1.5 mm in width, surface moderately glossy             with soft thin hairs 1 mm in length and NN155D in color,             moderate to strong in strength, held at a 40° angle to             peduncle.         -   Flower buds.—Nearly orbicular in shape, average of 8 mm in             length and 9 mm in diameter, color immature sepals 143A to             143B and petals NN155D, surface petal portion glabrous,             sepal portion covered with soft hairs 0.5 mm in length and             NN155D in color.         -   Flower type.—Rotate, single.         -   Flower number.—An average of 13 per inflorescence, 340 per             plant.         -   Flower fragrance.—Faint, somewhat moldy.         -   Flower size.—Average of 3.6 cm in height and diameter.         -   Sepals.—Five, an average of 7 mm in length and 5 mm in             width, broadly ovate to near deltoid in shape, base broad             cuneate, apex aristate, entire margin, color when opening             and mature 146D on upper surface and 143A to 143B on lower             surface, both surfaces densely covered with hairs; 1 mm in             length and NN155D in color, upper surface matte, lower             surface moderately glossy.         -   Petals.—Five, an average of 1.7 cm in length and 1 cm in             width, base cuneate, apex obtuse, entire margin with medium             undulation, glabrous and matte on upper and lower surfaces,             color; when opening upper and lower surface NN155D and             slightly tinged with 157C at base, when fully open upper and             lower surface NN155D and slightly tinged with 157D at base.         -   Floral bracts.—2 at base of pedicel, leafy; narrow elliptic             in shape, an average of 1 cm in length and 2 mm in width,             apex narrow acute, cuneate base, color both surfaces 143A             with centers 144B to 144C, lower surface 147A, both surfaces             covered with adpressed hairs; an average of 1 mm in length             and transparent and NN155D in color.         -   Androecium.—An average of 120 stamens, filaments 4 mm in             length and 157D in color, anthers 1 mm in length, 0.8 mm in             width, and a color between 145C and 150D, pollen low to             moderate in quantity and 155B in color.         -   Gynoecium.—An average of 90 pistils, 1.8 mm in length,             stigmas cup-shaped, 0.5 mm in length and diameter, 145C in             color, styles 1.3 mm in length in length and 145C in color,             ovary 144A in color. -   Fruit description:     -   -   Fruit number.—An average of 340 per plant.         -   Fruit size.—An average of 4.1 cm in length and 2.8 mm in             diameter.         -   Fruit shape.—Oblong.         -   Fruit texture.—Smooth, glossy, glabrous except for             persistent styles 2 mm in length and 164A to 164B in color.         -   Fruit size.—Up to 4 cm in length and an average of 3 cm in             width.         -   Fruit maturity date.—Late summer on floricanes.         -   Seed.—Oblong in shape, average of 5 (ranges from seedless to             10 per fruit), 3.5 mm in length, 2 mm in width, 199C to 199D             in color and spotted with 200B.         -   Cropping frequency.—Annually, on floricanes.         -   Flavor.—Pleasant, moderately sweet with an acidic             aftertaste.         -   Fruit weight.—10 to 20 g/fruit.         -   Shelf life.—An average of 7 days after picking.         -   Market use.—Fresh fruit. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Rubus plant named ‘16TP4’ as herein illustrated and described. 